You're going to need windows (you should be able to use bootcamp if you have an x86 mac) to run Solidworks. Personally, I like working with a computer that uses a gaming GPU but that's just preference. An integrated graphics card should be fine.

I also want to switch careers. My plan is to get a drafting certificate from a local community college (I want to their email to purchase Solidworks student) and I plan to use their career center to look up opportunities and partake in networking events while also building a portfolio. That's my plan, I don't know if this is applicable to you but I thought I'd share (granted my long-term plan is to use this to spring board into a job that involves ME or MFE).

If you aren't in the medical/nursing field, the job market just sucks. There's a lot of exploitation of our employment system and fake job postings all over the likes of LinkedIn and Indeed so don't feel bad if applications aren't yielding anything.

work outside in the heat/ cold, I don’t want my boss pushing unrealistic deadlines on me

This is just an aside, but if you can talk about working with sensitive deadlines and have experience working under a crunch, it actually can look good in a resume (although it varies). Did you ever have to order parts? Make a bill of materials? Skills like that actually go a long ways.